Hey, sorry I haven't gotten anything posted recently, I've been really busy, so none of my stories have been updated in a month or more... Anyway, moving on, here's the third chapter. Enjoy! I do not own the Teen Titans characters.

Exit 45

(Raven's POV)

I look around me, gaining preview to none other than the smoldering ashes of buildings and homes and cars that used to stand around me. No one's here. But I know who has been. I seat my self on the hood of a grey Miata, not caring that it is broken, or if it would fall under my weight. I needed to think. I hear the thunder above me, but it seems far away. Rain drizzles around my, soaking my outfit and sliding in icy drips down my neck, but I couldn't care less. The rain makes the burnt asphalt of the main road hiss, an oddly comforting sound for me. I look up at the blood red sky, black clouds in deep, beautiful contrast to it, quilting it in an eerie pattern of shadows. I have no sense of time. But I can easily sense His prescence- the presence of he who plagues me. "Go away. Just- Just leave... you'll never take me alive..."

I shiver, laying myself on the warm hood of the car, trying not to listen to the voice in my head. Behind me I hear only radio static as the car's radio lands on a station. It takes me a moment to realize something's wrong about that. It lands on the local new music station, belting out a song I dont recognize. I slide off the car onto the ground, and try to stand, but my legs slide and shake. By the time I get up, I find everything is dizzying and blurry, and I can't walk a straight line. He's using his power to make me drunk enough to follow him to wherever he needs me. I can't let him. I start rambling outloud, not caring that no one's listening, or how I look. I just need to get out of here. I walk into a rusty pole, looking up to see the faded green of a directional road sign. Ahead lies a chocolate brown sign, saying in white letters "Rest Stop, 1 mile, Exit 45" Where in Hell am I? I figure that if I keep walking I'll eventually end up at that exit, then I can try to seek shelter in a rest area. It would have to do as a plan for now.

Halfway down the road, I still don't see any cars. It is just too strange, but since I have no clue where I am, maybe no one comes down here. I cant tell. I'm strangely numb, oblivious, removed from everything. I finally reach the rest stop, and I look at my self in the window of the InfoCenter. My eyes are vacant, my messy hair blows around, whipping my face, sticking to my cheeks. Looking into the window, I dont see anyone who can help me, nothing's there but an empty desk and a few faded, dusty pamphlets greeting me through the grimey window. "Well then if I can't take you alive I'll just have to take you dead..." It's eerie, the reply coming in from very near, after all these hours. He wanted me to come here. I looked around me, seeing nothing butworn benches and the grey sillouttes of pine trees beyond them. "I have to get out of here" I say to myself outloud, and start running. One of the shadows seems to break off, and I know it was a mistake to start running in the first place. I try to bring myself to fly, but I am grounded. "What do you want from me?" I cry. There's no answer, just a sigh from within the shadow of the InfoCenter. "Hello?"

"Raven, my dear, how nice of you to come to me... I've been expecting you..."

"No, no, no, no, NO! I will never come with you!" I watch as the tall man with the half golden mask steps before me, eyeing me, not at all afraid tograb me and take me away. I have no defenses, he's rendered me weak and my powers are useless. He could take me at any time. "I thought for once you were gone, Slade, that you would just leave me alone! Why must you always bother me! What out of me do you seek?" I take a deep breath, arranging my next words, but it amounts to nothing. He grabs me, shoving me inside of a white Bronco from the parking lot. I can't speak, he's muted me. I feel paralyzed, there's nothing that will stop him now. Where is everyone?Breaking my thoughts, Slade speaks. "This is the world" he begins, gesturing out the window with a wave of his hand "if you don't do as I say." I'm too exausted to care. I stare wide eyed at the upholstered grey roof of the car, the blood stains on it making me worried and nausceous. I clench my eyes shut, not being able to bare it. How many have died in this car? I hear the ignition start, the vehicle starting to shake as it went along the uneven road. Where are we going? I think to myself. Having read my thoughts, Slade answers. "Home. To our wedding. It is tomorrow, you know." I feel the wrench of my gut, nagging on the back of my mind that I need to escape.

Start counting your blessings, Slade. You'll never take me. This time, there is no reply. I fade into a deep sleep, once again removed from the world. Is this real, or is it only a dream? Only time can tell me that...

(Starfire's POV)

I sit in a waiting room, eyeing the senseless people around me, looking down at the old magazines beside me on the coffee table. Trying to keep myself occupied, I pull an old edition of Rolling Stone into my lap, looking up only to see the newscaster talking on the muted television set and the barely readable wall clock. I've been sitting here for an hour and 45 minutes already. No one's come to tell me how Raven is doing. It is hard to explain,we were in her room, talking, and all the sudden, her eyes went blank, she stared out past me. I was trying to continue talking to her, when - all of a sudden - she fell backwards, hitting her head on a metal bed post. The gash was huge, it wouldn't stop bleeding. We called 911 and they came and took her, sending her straight into the ER. "It, it is all my fault." I say out loud, getting up to get a drink from the water fountain by the restrooms behind me. An elderly couple eye me cautiously, but say nothing.

The water tastes bad, metallic. I let it fill my mouth, then swallow, trying to taste nothing. I take my seat on the threadbare seats, reopening the magazine. I read an article on My Chemical Romance, pushing the bare coldness of the room and Raven out of my mind for a while.

Minutes later, a young, blue-eyed doctor walks out from Raven's room. "She is ready to be visited now, but be very quite, I don't think she's quite awake. If you want to come anyway, I know this has been a bad experience for you."

"No, I shall come, she might want my company." I stand up, pulling my blue Air Force sweatshirt around me tighter. I stand outside the door, taking a shakey breath, then enter. What I see is disturbing, but it does not suprize me... "Hey Raven."...

That's all I have for you guys right now, remember, let me know what you think. I should be able to get the next chapter up soon, since I know where I'm going with this now. Thank you to last chapter's reviewers: So Insecure, kidsnextdoor112 (we see you were right about the Slade part, Yay! (high five), and last but not least, VampireSelene. I'm loving the reviews you guys, keep sending them!- Mistress Amity